Share this:

DECATUR (KFSM) -- The Benton County Sheriff's Office released details Sunday (Oct. 30) about the suspected murder of a two-month-old child in Decatur.

The child's mother, Molly Dawn Sullivan, 22, was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to the sheriff's office.

Detectives were called to Sullivan's home on Coon Hollow Road just before 1 p.m. Friday and found pressure marks on the baby's body indicating he had been lying face down on his stomach when he died, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Sullivan lived in a metal storage building adapted into living quarters with two other sons and their father, the affidavit states. The building had electricity, but no running water, according to the affidavit.

Sullivan told police she woke up around 11:30 a.m. that morning to find the baby was blue and purple, so she called 911, the affidavit states.

Detectives noted several inconsistencies in Sullivan's account of what happened and she eventually admitted to putting the baby to sleep on his stomach in a playpen and putting a pillow over him, according to the affidavit. She told investigators she had not slept in days and was frustrated with the baby being fussy, but she had not intended to kill him, the affidavit states.

Sullivan is being held at the Benton County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.